New garage time!

[shovelmike]

Thanks for sharing your project in this thread, it's looking great.

 

[ovrszd]

Clean gravel is easy to spread, hard to stabilize.

Gravel with more fines is harder to spread, much easier to stabilize.

My concrete guy used gravel with fines and a packer.

 

[EddieWalker]

Nice job on the gravel. When you pour the concrete, will it go above the 12 inch block to anchor them down in place?

You mentioned that your rebar will be on a 3 foot grid. Is that code there? What size rebar will you use?

Here, we use 3/8 rebar, also called #3, on a 2 foot grid for most things, but I personally like to go 18 inches. It gives me a better sense of security knowing there is more rebar then needed, and it's not all that much more money for the extra rebar. 18 inches is also enough space to walk around the rebar so it doesn't come off of the chairs.

Remember the biggest lie from concrete crews is that they will lift the rebar up while pouring the concrete. They might do it for pictures in the beginning, but when they start really working hard, they are walking all over it and pushing it back down to the bottom of the pad.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Good progress, I'm watching too.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[fatjay]

The stone will come up to 2" under the 12" block, then 2" foam will go on top of that. The 6" pad bottom will be the top of the 12" block. I"m picking up steel mesh tomorrow and will have it pinned up 2" and then pex tied on top of it for the floor heat. After that a 3x3 grid of 1/2" rebar, then ready to pour. Now that you mention 2' I may do that. Cheap insurance and strength.

 

[riptides]

If you do not mind...what is your projected budget for foundation and building skeleton?

 

[fatjay]

If you do not mind...what is your projected budget for foundation and building skeleton?

I don't really know. As much as it takes I guess.

So far this is the breakdown:

$2500 for the concrete footer
$1200 for 8" and 12" block
$1500 for stone (3 trucks @$500 each)
$150 for a pallet of concrete
$200 for rebar
$2200 for insulation and J-bolts

Estimated expenses are:

$8200 for 6" pad with 3x3 grid of rebar
$400 for 1000' pex type A

I'm not sure about the steel mesh, I'll get the price when I show up to pick it up.

 

[ovrszd]

I still don't understand the purpose of the steel mesh?

 

[fatjay]

I still don't understand the purpose of the steel mesh?

I think it's to tie the pex to, since it needs to be anchored to something.

 

[ovrszd]

I think it's to tie the pex to, since it needs to be anchored to something.

That's why they make plastic "staples". They hold it in place laying on the pinkboard.